BENGALURU: In the backdrop of a recent accident that claimed the life of a pedestrian on the Outer Ring Road in Bellandur, hundreds of residents formed a human chain at Iblur junction to demand construction of a skywalk.
On November 29, 19-year-old Sanjay Aditya Giri was fatally run over by a speeding vehicle and residents complain that this is not a one-off incident and they have to risk their lives while crossing the four-lane road.
The residents also blamed the authorities concerned for not taking the issue seriously.
“Prior to her election, corporator Asha Suresh promised us that the skywalk would be constructed once we vote for her, but now she is ignoring our continuous pleas,” said Vijaya Vishnu Bhat, an activist and a Kannada scholar who resides in the area.
“There have been two deaths this year and numerous pedestrians have sustained injuries because of the negligence of the authorities,” she added.
The area also sees a lot of school children trying to cross the dangerous road in order to reach their respective apartment complexes.
“I find it ridiculous that young school children have to risk their lives every day on the way to school and back,” said Arun Kumar, another local resident.
Another resident, who wished to remain anonymous, told DC that Salarpuria Group, a real estate company which has property on the other side of the road, was willing to fund the skywalk, but the corporator was getting in the way.
Corporator Asha Suresh told Deccan Chronicle: “I have forwarded a letter to the BBMP Commissioner two years ago requesting the construction of the skywalk, but it is getting delayed due to the construction of the metro rail.
“What we can do at the moment is install a traffic signal at the point of crossing and post constables to regulate the traffic,” she said.
However, residents are skeptical about the suggestion and claim that their agitation will end only after a skywalk is constructed.
“The corporator has assured us that the skywalk will be constructed in the next couple of months. While we have agreed to the temporary solution of a traffic signal, but will continue to fight for a skywalk,” said Senthil, a resident.
